ABOUT SUMBA ISLAND

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

Sumba is one of the Sunda Islands, in Eastern Indonesia and situated at the East of Sumbawa, South of Flores, and North of Australia. Home to no volcanos, the island has 3 mountains. Mount Wanggameti reaches 1225 m high, offering stunning views of the coast.

DESCRIPTION

The island spreads its beautiful landscapes on 220 km long and around 70 km wide, which makes it twice as big as Bali, and with only 650,000 inhabitants (Vs. 4 million in Bali). The capital is WAINGAPU in the East, with almost 55,000 inhabitants. Sumba is a wild and intact island. It’s a heaven with large white sandy beaches and turquoise waters where you could observe manta rays, dolphins, big turtles, and dugongs. The inlands are not less amazing with stunning views and an unbelievable diversity of landscapes: savannas, humid forests, rice fields, ideal for a good trek, horseback riding…or maybe you prefer to swim in a blue lagoon, or to submerge under the refreshing waterfalls? Sumba is a treasure to discover!

ECONOMY

Sumba was rather dormant for many centuries, which is why it is still intact. Five years ago, the Indonesian government decided to grow the tourism industry in Sumba to relieve the overcrowded and over polluted Bali. New infrastructure and investments started flooding into the island while protecting and sustaining its authenticity: new roads, new satellite antennas, a second airport in Tambolaka, West Sumba, and renovating and enlarging the existing one in Waingapu in the East. The government also plans that this green jewel becomes the first ecologic island of the world, and invests in solar panel farms, wind tribune parks. Sumba’s economy is now heading steadily into growth.

CULTURE

Sumba is a mainly catholic island, with a strong animist culture, the Merapu. The island is known as the “horses’ island”, and you will see many horses everywhere in the island. Sumbanese people are amazing horse riders, and the pinnacle of their equestrian skills is manifested every year in the Pasola games taking place every year between February and March. The island is also home to a huge fabric tradition, the Ikat, which is exported widely around the world. Sumbanese are also good in carving on stones. You could see in traditional villages many huge sculptures that are in fact tombs of the ancestors. Sumba has a lot to offer! It’s not an accurate image to reduce it down just to its stunning sandy beaches and great surfing spots. It’s much more than that. Sumba is a hidden treasure!

HOW TO GO TO SUMBA

2 Airports. Waingapu in the East , Tambolaka in the West. One or two daily flights to Bali and Jakarta. (Bali/Sumba go and return for around 120 USD)